The Ferguson Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families in need by providing financial assistance for funeral services, at-need assistance for essential bills, and scholarships for higher education. Our mission is to ease the burden on families during challenging times and assist individuals with achieving their educational goals. Through strategic fundraising, community involvement, and dedicated programs, we aim to make a significant impact on families and individuals in need
The Driving Force Behind The Foundation
Marshia Ferguson founded The Ferguson Foundation with a deep passion for helping families facing financial hardship. Inspired by the legacy of her father, Marsh Ferguson, her grandfather, Robert Ferguson Sr., and her uncle, Robert Ferguson Jr., all of whom dedicated their lives to supporting the community, Marshia was determined to create a nonprofit that would provide relief to families in times of need. With a strong belief in the power of compassion and community, she has built the foundation to ensure that families have access to dignified funeral services, financial assistance for essential bills, and scholarships to empower the next generation.
Marshia's journey to establishing The Ferguson Foundation is rooted in her family's rich history of service and leadership. She carries forward her family’s values of integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to helping others. Through her leadership, The Ferguson Foundation has grown into a vital resource for families in need, supporting them with dignity, respect, and hope for a better future.
This same dedication to service also inspired The Ferguson Foundation’s At-Need Assistance Program, ensuring families facing financial hardships have access to the support they need during critical times.
In 1951, in the heart of Rochelle, Georgia, Robert "R.T." Ferguson, Sr. founded Ferguson Funeral Home with a simple yet profound mission: To provide compassionate and dignified care to families during their most challenging times. R.T. was a man deeply connected to his community and known for his commitment to keeping funeral services affordable. He even accepted bartered payments, such as livestock, when families were unable to pay in cash.
After R.T.’s passing, his son Robert Jr. (Ickey) took over as General Manager. Like his father, Ickey was dedicated to ensuring that every family, regardless of financial situation, could provide a proper funeral for their loved ones. He often covered funeral expenses from his own pocket when necessary.
This deep commitment to affordability and dignity inspired The Ferguson Foundation’s Funeral Assistance Program, ensuring that no family is denied the opportunity to honor their loved ones with a proper farewell.
For as long as Marshia can remember, her father, Marsh Ferguson, emphasized the critical role education plays in shaping one’s future. He believed that knowledge was the cornerstone of success and that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Whether through formal education, his work as a Sunday School teacher, a CDL instructor, or various life experiences, Marsh viewed education as a driving force in life and valued the pursuit of knowledge as essential to both personal and professional growth. This deep-rooted belief in education not only inspired Marshia’s own accomplishments but also became the foundation for the creation of the Ferguson Foundation’s College Scholarship Program, which consists of both the Educational Assistance Program as well as the Degree Completion Program .